How to back up a pivoting axle trailer

[workinonit]

Wheel brakes help too.

 

[RobertDuPuis]

I just got an utility trailer with two axles. The front axle pivots.
The tongue is A-Frame. It looks just like the photo attached.
While I am normally pretty good at backing up trailers -without pivoting axles- I find this one is just about impossible to back up. I don't know if it's because the tongue is too short or if it is the double pivot point that screws me up.

So for those of you whom own one of these how do you back them up?
Do I need to lengthen the tongue?DO I need to rig it so I can tie the 3-points lower arms to the tongue or do I need to fit something to lock the tongue at the 0 degree position when backing up?

Thanks in advance.


View attachment 849621

Boy sorry you got all those stupid reports, some where nice. Rule one when backing up a four wheel wagon it responses quickly to the action of the pushing vehicle, rule two what ever direction the front vehicle is pointing or turning too is going to copy but quickly, rule 3 slowly or make little gentle moves, Rule four good luck and be patent it will come to you more you do it. I can back up hay baler and hay wagon at the same time and put the hay wagon where I want it but each year have to get back into it all over again. lol after the first wagon it gets easy again so its not something that stays in you easy it is something if you did it weekly it would be easy. Hope this helps be easier to show and demonstrate

 

[quarencia]

It's a wagon, not a trailer. (who cares, right?)

The fastest way to backup a wagon is to put a hitch on the front of the tractor and back it up driving the tractor forward.

I care. First thing I thought when I read the post. Words matter.

 

[olenjohn]

I just got an utility trailer with two axles. The front axle pivots.
The tongue is A-Frame. It looks just like the photo attached.
While I am normally pretty good at backing up trailers -without pivoting axles- I find this one is just about impossible to back up. I don't know if it's because the tongue is too short or if it is the double pivot point that screws me up.

So for those of you whom own one of these how do you back them up?
Do I need to lengthen the tongue?DO I need to rig it so I can tie the 3-points lower arms to the tongue or do I need to fit something to lock the tongue at the 0 degree position when backing up?

Thanks in advance.


View attachment 849621

While it’s good to learn new things, this may be beyond your capabilities. The only way to learn is by just doing it and making lots of mistakes. After you master backing the trailer up with a tractor, insert a hay bailer between the tractor and trailer. Or hitch two wagons together behind the tractor and back them up. Some will says this is impossible to back up. I learned how to do this many years ago. It’s something you get at the school of hard knocks, not on a computer.

 

[mra400ex]

Back when we hauled hay 50 years ago, my uncle had Case tractors. They made a hitch on the front of the tractor sort of right in the middle of the front weights. They would hitch to it and "Back" the trailer in while hook to the front hitch. I never did it myself, but they put that trailer right into place in the barn to unload hay bales

 

[CoyPatton]

OK Wagon. I have no issue with the term.

I already figured that it goes reverse as a normal trailer but I still cant get it to back up properly.
Would lengthening the tongue make it easier?
Or any of the other possibilities I mentioned eliminating one of the two pivot points i.e. either pinning the axle so it does not rotate when backing up or braising the tongue (using the 3-point arms) so the hitch does not pivot?

First, stop using the 3 pt drawbar for pulling trailers, there is mo down pressure on the 3ph other than the tongue weight. It is a good way to get into trouble. Use the fixed drawbar attached to the under belly of the transaxle—this can not raise up.
Second find an opened area and get some flags—the ones on a thin wire. Then practice practice practice. Then practice some more. You must think in a different way from backing up a trailer when backing up a wagon.

 

[Eebbee]

Back it around a corner and then I'll be impressed.

Well around a corner is not an issue because so far all I can manage is pivot the axle to about 90 degrees as soon as I start turning...around a specific corner though would be a different story...

 

[Eebbee]

Because if he doesn't have a practical use for that wagon such as hay ride, hay wagon , corn wagon ,etc, he will be much better off IMO with a regular trailer. I hope he comes back and let's us know what he plans on using it for and depending on what he says it might change my mind, most farm folks around here try to figure out how not to hook up to a wagon with a tongue on it, especially behind a pickup.

The wagon is 5 ton capacity with air brakes and dumping. I planned on using it mostly for moving excavation material from A to B on my property.
I will give it some practice but the solution might be to sell it and get a trailer instead of a wagon.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Well around a corner is not an issue because so far all I can manage is pivot the axle to about 90 degrees as soon as I start turning...around a specific corner though would be a different story...

Some wagons can be a little tougher to back and get it to turn and go exactly where you want it to, straight back not as bad but backing some of them around tight corners in a timely manner not so much, there are apparently many on here who can thread a needle with one, but not most of us, so don't feel bad.

 

[charlessenf]

I just got an utility trailer with two axles. The front axle pivots.
The tongue is A-Frame. It looks just like the photo attached.
While I am normally pretty good at backing up trailers -without pivoting axles- I find this one is just about impossible to back up. I don't know if it's because the tongue is too short or if it is the double pivot point that screws me up.

So for those of you whom own one of these how do you back them up?
Do I need to lengthen the tongue?DO I need to rig it so I can tie the 3-points lower arms to the tongue or do I need to fit something to lock the tongue at the 0 degree position when backing up?

Thanks in advance.


View attachment 849621

Why did you buy it?
Who did you buy it from?
Does he; do they know?
Do they accept returns?

" I planned on using it mostly for moving excavation material from A to B "

Form Follows Function - You wanted a DUMP TRAILER or a DUMP TRUCK.

Looks like GOOGOL ("how to back up with pivoting axle trailer") before the purchase might have save you:

Any tips for backing up the trailers that pivot at the front axel?​

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